Leh, January 27: Renowned Indian ice skater Vishwaraj Rajen Jadeja has spent the last 18 years pursuing his passion for the sport with unwavering determination. His dedication reflects the spirit his Dutch coach, Wim Nieuwenhuizen, once described: “No, he is not [naturally talented], but he is a Rajput. They don’t give up no matter what.”
Jadeja hails from the royal Dhrol family of Gujarat, whose former palace now operates as a school for women, providing almost free education as part of the family’s empowerment initiative. Despite his royal lineage, Jadeja grew up modestly, as the privileges of Indian royalty were abolished in 1971.
Following his grandfather’s advice — “Money comes and goes. Pursue some sport and excel at that. These things stay with you forever” — Jadeja moved to Europe in the late 2000s to chase a career in ice skating. Today, at 40, he is India’s most decorated ice skater, having set multiple national records. Among his notable feats, he is unofficially the only Indian to have ice-skated five kilometres at 4,500 metres altitude on Tso Moriri Lake in 2019.
He also won three silver medals and a bronze at the 2020 Winter World Masters Games in Austria. In last year’s Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, he led India in a team event where the country finished fifth.
This past Sunday, during the final day of the long-track ice-skating event at the 2026 Khelo India Games at Gupukh’s Pond in Leh, Jadeja finished eighth in the men’s 1000m. “I wasn’t exactly there to win, but to show how far India and ice skating have come together,” he said.
Jadeja believes India is on the cusp of hosting the Asian Winter Games within the next 10-12 years, provided authorities invest further in infrastructure. “Thanks to Khelo India, we now have two Olympic-sized artificial ice rinks in Leh and Dehradun for short-track ice skating and ice hockey. With a few long-track ice skating surfaces, we are ready,” he said.
He emphasized the need for coach-athlete welfare and support from both the government and corporates. “Ice skating is an elite sport, and with the right infrastructure, India could produce an Olympian quickly and be taken seriously internationally,” Jadeja added.
A turning point in his career came after a 2017 accident. A musician friend advised him to visit Leh, where he rediscovered his passion for ice skating and developed a deep connection to the region. “Leh should be the permanent venue for Khelo India Winter Games. With infrastructure improving, it’s the ideal place,” he said.
Jadeja also expressed gratitude to Khelo India for boosting winter sports in the country. “Media coverage and awareness have improved significantly, and infrastructure development has picked up pace. We now know exactly where we stand and what more needs to be done,” he concluded.(Agencies)
